We’re here to
get you out there.
Since 2015, we’ve helped over 150 organizations and thousands of individuals get the right attention, navigate critical moments, and build lasting trust. We can do the same for you.
Clients in
Expert attention, all for you.
The PR Accelerator is a full-service PR and branding company serving both individuals and organizations. Our experts, each with decades of experience in their craft, are based in the United States and supported by a global operations team.
Our nimble approach gives you direct access to executive-level leaders without the overhead and bloat of a large agency. To ensure outstanding results and service, we intentionally limit the number of clients we serve at one time.
Select clients
3Fold Collective • Aether Biomedical • Advocate Healthcare • Aging Together • American Library Association • American Society of Anesthesiologists • Anderson Wanca • BCV • Brightpoint • CardMill • The Chicago Network • Chicago Council on Global Affairs • City of Chicago • Crain Communications • Dominican University • Economic Restoration • Elmhurst University • Globowl • Gundir • i.c.stars • Institute for Nonviolence Chicago • The Northwood Group • The Joffrey Ballet • Jumpstart the Job Search • Keenan Reid Strategies • Kin + Carta • Lake Forest University • MTG Media Group • National Association of Broadcasters • National Association of Realtors • NORC at the University of Chicago • The Northwood Group • OKRP • Oliva Partners Management • Oliva Gibbs • Origin Investments • Quester Entertainment • Redding Futures • Results Resourcing • Rotary International • Signal + Cipher • sisu • Technori • UI LABS • Unify America • University of Chicago • University of Illinois • Uptake Technologies • Veerless • Windy City Indie • YPO
Tracy Samantha Schmidt
Founder, The PR Accelerator
Tracy Samantha Schmidt is a trusted strategist to influential entrepreneurs, bestselling authors, speakers, artists, and every kind of brand, helping them earn attention, build reputations, and craft narratives that resonate. She began her career as TIME Magazine's youngest reporter, covering the rise of social media and pioneering new ways to report the news. Her master's thesis on the resurgence of young nuns ran in TIME and was covered by The Today Show, Oprah, MTV, and Vogue.
Tracy later co-founded ChicagoNow.com, the Chicago Tribune’s groundbreaking blog and influencer network, and later led global social media strategy at Crain Communications, unifying the efforts of 18 newsrooms and training hundreds of journalists. She’s been a frequent commentator on ABC, CBS, and FOX, and has taught thousands of professionals how to build personal brands. She also taught marketing at the University of Chicago for a decade and taught graduate-level journalism at several universities.
In 2015, Tracy launched Socially Authentic to help brands and individuals improve their marketing and communications through a social media lens. Over a decade, the company evolved into The PR Accelerator, a full-service PR and branding agency that has supported over 150 organizations and thousands of people.
Today, she splits her time between Chicago and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where she and her husband are restoring a historic general store and starting an off-the-grid lavender farm.
Meet our partners
As our client, you get access to top independent PR and branding experts who know how to get results. Our global ops team keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes, so you get fast, seamless support wherever you are.
Lauren Viera
Branding and Communications Strategist | Content Director | Ghost Writer
Lauren’s articles and essays have appeared in books and publications, including the New York Times Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Magazine, and Time Out Chicago, where she was an editor, and the Chicago Tribune, where she was a staff writer. After leaving the Tribune, Lauren was recruited to Leo Burnett Chicago as a content writer on the agency’s flagship brand.
Her guidebook, 500 Hidden Secrets of Chicago (Luster, 2023), sold out of its first printing. Since launching her consultancy in 2018, she has partnered with Walgreens, Airbnb, Google, Workspace, CWT, Illinois Humanities, and the United Center, to name a few.
DeRondal Bevly
Branding and Communications Strategist | Executive Coach
DeRondal Bevly is a nationally recognized communications strategist and executive coach with over 20 years of experience advising business, civic, philanthropic, and political leaders. As Founder of RubyRose Strategies and Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Community Connections Fund, he helps organizations navigate high-stakes moments with clarity, influence, and measurable impact.
His coaching and advisory work integrates communications strategy with mindset development, helping leaders show up with presence, purpose, and precision. A Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow and Economic Club of Chicago member, DeRondal has led campaigns and initiatives across sectors. He serves on boards including Chicago Hope Academy, Loyola Medicine, the Small Business Advocacy Council and the Association of Consultants to Nonprofits.
Eric Benderoff
Media & Speaking Trainer | Communications Strategist
Eric Benderoff is a communications expert with 30 years of experience in journalism and public relations. He leads Benderoff Communications, specializing in executive media training, interview strategy, and message development for business leaders, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs. A former Chicago Tribune columnist and Sun-Times editor, he brings a journalist’s insight to media coaching.
At Burson, a global communications firm, Eric trained executives at major companies like Ford, Accenture, and Bank of America, and guided crisis communications for clients such as Valero and Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. He also teaches strategic communications at Michigan State University and co-directs its PR study abroad program in London.
Sarah Brooks
Copywriter | Content Strategist
Sarah Brooks has written more than 100 websites that reflect impact for corporations like Hyatt, nonprofits including the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago, and solopreneurs and small marketing teams.
She leverages her roots in journalism for an interview-based approach to websites and sales pages called the Website Mirror. The result uncomplicates your approach to connect the dots between what you do, who you are, and how you'll stand out in the marketplace, leading to fresh website content that resonates with your ideal customers and feels authentic to your brand.
Collin Czarnecki
Media and Digital PR Strategist
Collin Czarnecki is the founder of Noble, a boutique digital PR studio specializing in data-driven campaigns that earn national media coverage. With a background as a journalist for Gannett/USA Today Network and nearly a decade in digital PR, Collin approaches campaigns with a newsroom-first mindset rooted in news value, timing, and clarity.
His work has helped brands land placements in outlets such as The New York Times, CNBC, Yahoo, ESPN, TODAY, and Entrepreneur. Collin’s expertise lies in transforming complex topics into headlines the media wants to run, with specialties across verticals like small business, personal finance, food & beverage, travel, and healthcare.
Jared Gibson
LinkedIn and Thought Leadership Strategist
Jared is the co-founder of Outworks, a marketing agency that helps executives and founders build influence on LinkedIn and other social channels. He and his team help amplify awareness, authority, and trust by transforming expertise into engaging content that resonates with prospects online and in real life.
With a track record of building and executing high-impact sales and marketing strategies at companies like Crain's Chicago Business and EmPower HR, Jared has helped companies generate millions in revenue, develop scalable outbound programs, and establish lasting brand authority.
Aalap Shah
Brand Strategist | Online Reputation Management Advisor
Aalap Shah is the founder of 1o8, a performance marketing digital agency focused on driving sales for CPG companies nationwide on e-commerce and Amazon platforms. They’ve worked with companies like Gildan, Sweet Leaf Tea, Tio, So Crazy, and more.
He also specializes in empowering professionals and key executives to grow through bespoke strategies in digital presence, content amplification, and reputational management. With over 15 years of experience in managing search and reputation for individuals, Aalap works hands-on with clients to put their best foot forward online.
More team members’ bios coming soon.